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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Worship (corporate) (10/04/07)
When we speak of corporate worship we must begin by remembering what our Lord said to all of us, "This is my body, given that you might have life. Take and eat of it. Do this in memory of me.”

Most of us see our character as most genuinely revealed when times are good. And although we’ve each been taught to believe that there exists a discrepancy between our character as it presently stands, and our character as it ought to stand in Christ, we do not quickly perceive any real formidable gap when all is well.

However, when trials and tribulations come to us, we often respond with a character that quite embarrasses us. Of course, we defer this intruding character, and call to the bench instead, the trials which we are certain are the true criminals in need of conviction.

“Well, I know that my reaction was heinous and wicked, but you do not understand. If you would simply take me from the fire, you would see my character more clearly. Indeed, help me from this fire and you will suddenly see me become a much more amicable creature.”

It is under the fire of trials that our criminality is brought before our senses for consideration. The trials do not make us criminal. The trials prove that I already am criminal. And every time I choose to disagree with this truth, I choose to remain in that most unteachable state of denial.

We forget what it was (and is) about us that warrants the need for redemption in the first place. What we are commanded to remember is not that God so loved the abstract collection of creatures, that he gave his One and Only Son for this. We are commanded to remember that God so coveted my honor that he gave his One and Only Son as a ransom for the crimes I committed which lost it.

In other words, I have seen my behavior under trial. And if, in the seeing, I decide that this is not the real me, then I may not have had much that needed dying for in the first place. But if, in the seeing, I assess my character, thus revealed under trial, as being the purest revelation of the solid truth about my real character there is, then I will spontaneously feel the need to fall before God and cry out to be saved; and in so doing, my remembering will have the real work of Christ intimately connected to the real fact of my criminal behavior.

This is somewhat of a brilliant plot to effectively motivate me against the pomp of judging my brother. It is quite facile for me to take snapshots of my brother during one of his fiery trials—while I am back at the fort enjoying my momentary debriefings, mid-war.

It is another story when I am really aware of what it was about me that created the necessity for the Holy Communion, of which I am about to receive. I am more apt to eat and drink with my cloak on my back and my duffle ready and packed. I am more apt to button up, dig in and help my brother to stand.

When the Christian gleans this inkling which connects his own fact of criminality with the historical fact of Christ crucified, the worship really begins. The romance begins. And the continuous flood of Agapeo begins to stir and simmer and bring to a boil such lovely things as adventure, comradery, glory, honor and, yes, immortality even as we live and die.

When put like this, it causes a man to lay down his arms.

It causes this act of being brought face to face with our own factual criminal to appear much more appetizing and less repulsive.

We’ve been found out, which is—if we should be so honest—quite the relief. We throw down our last defiant card, and suddenly we are raptured back into the ancient heart of things we’d all but forgotten still existed.

We fall before our God, for his mercies are new every morning. We place ourselves below our brothers and sisters, for their glory, which is at stake, is a heavy burden which requires our stooping; we must learn to place ourselves beneath the screaming neediness of our brother.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Donna Powers
10/12/07
A very good article. I felt your sincerity and your words are eloquent and expressive. Nice job
Beth LaBuff
10/18/07
I could really relate to this paragraph, "“Well, I know that my reaction was heinous and wicked, but you do not understand. If you would simply take me from the fire, you would see my character more clearly. Indeed, help me from this fire and you will suddenly see me become a much more amicable creature.” Who among us, doesn't want delivered from fiery trials? Nice title in light of your writing.

Shayne Catoe
10/19/07
I like an article that makes my mind stretch. Your use of the language is marvelous. I enjoyed this very much, especially the subject matter you chose. I whole heartedly agree that trials can bring out the worst in us sometimes, so that God can extinguish them. Good job.